This is a fantastic Northern Plains pre-Indian Wars period pipe tomahawk with beaded drop attributed to the Ute Indians. The tomahawk features a hand-forged blacksmith forged iron head, with a large, heavy cut rear-facing notch spur. The pipe bowl exhibits a medium height base with double ridge and wide body sitting atop a tapered neck and chevron atop the oval tear drop eyelet / eye hole. There is slight damage to the pipe bowl, likely from pounding tobacco residue out. The head is secured to the haft with a poured lead pewter cap, a buckskin gasket (that’s remnants can still be seen) and several brass tacks. The old osage orange wood haft handle has old rasp file brandings and brass tack decoration. The end of the pipe has an old steel smoking tip and hanging off the end a beautifully beaded Buffalo Bison hide drop tied on with a wrap of red stroud clothe around the mouthpiece. The entire tomahawk exhibits a nice, mellow patina of use, with minor nicks, dings, cracks and wear from use. The drop is of an old age, but a later addition to this piece and shows early glass trade seed beads in a classic geometric patter, similar to other Ute beadwork showing colors of chalk white, greasy yellow, medium green, semi-transparent red, orange, cobalt, and greasy blue. The antique drop shows some wear but has supple hide with little to no bead loss and wonderful fringe on the bottom. This is truly a wonderful pre-Indian Wars period example, likely circa 1850–1860-time frame. Early examples of Northern Plains tomahawks, especially those attributed to the Ute such as this, are scarce. Provenance: From the Jim Bastian Kansas City, Missouri collection. The head measures 9 ¼ inches long by 3 inches across the bottom of the blade. Total length of 21 inches.